By Debbi Kickham,, first published in Forbes 

THE SEYCHELLES: COCO DE MER COLLECTION. Just launched in the USA on May 1, the the Coco de Mer Collection of five unique fragrances is the brainchild of Sharon Bonne, a local Seychellois Creole woman, and conservationist, and her inventive parents. In this independent island nation that is part of the African Union, Ms. Bonne’s parents created the patented extraction process to release the unique, heady aroma of the local Coco de Mer palm tree and its giant, aromatic, aphrodisiac-like seeds and husk (the seeds are the largest in the plant kingdom). The seeds yield a scent that until recently, remained a closely-guarded, fiercely-protected secret in this country – and The Seychelles island is the only place on the planet where the Coco de Mer palm tree is found. These palms are the stuff of legend (and when British sailors discovered them, it is said that they thought they had found the true Garden of Eden.) The resulting new Coco de Mer Collection of perfumes just debuted (only 1,000 bottles on initial release) and are some of the most prized and dizzylingly expensive natural scents in the world. Many perfumeries have tried to copy this scent – but its essence is inimitable. And besides its olfactory allure, the Coco de Mer Collection also has a profound purpose: Every bottle that is purchased supports the Seychelles National Parks and its efforts to protect these precious seeds from poachers. Prices are $200 for a full-size bottle; $129 for the Discovery Set of all five signature scents, including “Fanm,” which means “Woman,” and is a floral, and “Sovaz,” which translates to “Wild” and is fresh. And the individual bottles carry the colors of the Seychellois flag! They are pure pleasure – without the passport.

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